Rug shampooer with improved foot-to-tank connection

ABSTRACT

A rug shampooer in which the shampoo tank and the foot for mounting the roller-brush assembly are formed separately, and the two are joined by a flexible clip which clamps to the tank and to which the foot is secured. The control valve is manually operated from the handle, which extends through the tank to the tank bottom. The bottom handle end area is provided with passage means for flow of liquid shampoo from the tank to the distributor.

United States Patent [191 Yonkers RUG SHAMPOOER WITH IMPROVED FOOT-TO-TANK CONNECTION Robert A. Yonkers, Grandville, Mich.

Assignee: Bissell Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.

Filed: ,June 9, 1971 Appl. No.1 151,263

Inventor:

US. Cl ..401/21 Int. Cl. ..A47l 11/08 Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1961 Yonkers et a1. ..401/2l 3,328,829 7/1967 Nighswander ..40l/2l Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles AttorneyAndrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall ABSTRACT A rug shampooer in which the shampoo tank and the foot for mounting the roller-brush assembly are formed separately, and the two are joined by a flexible clip which clampsto the tank and to which the foot is secured. The control valve is manually operated from the handle, which extends through the tank to the tank bottom. The bottom handle end area is provided with passage means for flow of liquid shampoo from the tank to the distributor.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEB APR 1 0 I973 SHEET 1 6? 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. YONKERS hlllllllIII'IIIIIIIUHNHHUHHHNNH M PATENTEU 1 01975 SHEET 2 BF 2 FIGA FIG 5 V EN'I'OR. ROBERT A. YONKERS BY m, 54. )gJ/ZJ/ Attorneys RUG SHAMPOOER WITH IMPROVED FOOT-TO- TANK CONNECTION BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for applying a foaming liquid shampoo to nap surfaces, such as rugs, carpets and the like.

The device is an improvement over that shown in us. Pat. No. 2,975,462, issued Mar. 21, 1961 and entitled Apparatus for Applying Detergent to Rugs and the Like.

In accordance with the invention, the shampoo tank and the foot for mounting the roller-brush assembly are formed separately, and the two are joined by a flexible clip which clamps to the tank and to which the foot is secured. The control valve is manually operated from the handle, which extends through the tank to the tank bottom. The bottom handle end area is provided with passage means for flow of liquid shampoo from the tank to the distributor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, the invention is incorporated in a rug cleaning apparatus comprising generally a manually operable handle 1, a shampoo liquid storage tank 2 which is preferably blow molded, and a foot 3 attached to the lower tank end.

Foot 3 serves as a unitary housing for a suitable assembly 4 which is mounted to the foot end walls. Assembly 4 includes a shampoo distributing roller 5 which serves also 'to support the device on the floor for reciprocating fore and aft translation thereover. Suitable brushes 6 assist in conditioning the nap and working the shampoo thereinto. Foot 3 is formed to provide an elongated planular upper support wall 7 having a central opening 8 therein which leads to an internal chamber 9 having an elongated liquid distributor 10 as its floor. Distributor 10 is provided with a plurality of holes 1 1- for passage of shampoo to roller 5.

In the assembled unit, chamber 9 contains and wholly encompasses valve means for selectively providing communication between tank 2 and the chamber. Generally, the valve means comprise a downwardly facing valve seat 12 and a valve 13 which is disposed on the lower end of a control rod 14. Rod 14 extends upwardly through handle 1 and tank 2, and terminates within the upper handle portion in the form of an enwardly. Block 15 is selectively moved downwardly to open the valve by a push rod 18 attached to a manual trigger 19.

In accordance with the invention, tank 2 and foot 3 are secured together in an unique manner. For this pur' pose, the lower portions of the front and rear tank walls are provided with opposed elongated horizontal indentations 20, and the generally planular tank bottom surface 21 is recessed, as at 22. Recess 22 extends across the tank bottom between ribs 23 disposed just below indentations 20. A preferably metallic generally rectangular connector clip 24 is provided, having a central web portion 25 which joins reverse bend clamping edge portions 26. Clip 24 is slightly flexible and extends across recess 22 and is snapped into position so that portions 26 are disposed in indentations 20.

As best shown in FIG. 4, web 25 is normally bowed slightly upwardly to provide enough metal for the clip to be snapped into place. A central opening 27 is provided in clip 24, which fits over an annular tank discharge neck 28 which extends downwardly in recess 22.

Foot 3 is attached to tank 2 via clip 24 by bringing foot wall 7 into mating engagement with tank bottom surface 21 and threadably tightening screws 29 through suitable openings in wall 7 and clip web 25 in the area of recess 22. (See FIGS. 1 and 4.) As this occurs, the slightly bowed web is pulled downwardly and flattens out, thus applying a holding tension by clamping edge portions 26 on the walls of indentations 20. Thus, translation forces during shampooing will not separate foot 3 from tank 2.

Mutually engaging locator means comprising projections 30 on tank bottom surface 21 and recesses 31 in foot wall 7 provide proper positioning of the members.

Valve seat 12 forms the lower edge of a generally hat-shaped connector member 32 having a hollow head portion 33 and an annular rim 34 which tightens onto neck 28 with a sealing washer 35 therebetween. Head portion 33 extends through foot opening 8 into chamber 9.

In accordance with the invention, passage means are provided at the lower end of handle 1 for communication and flow of liquid from tank 2 into member 32 adjacent the control valve. For this purpose, an annular ring 36 extends upwardly from rim 34 and is dimensioned to be press-fit over the bottom end of handle 1 and to tighteningly fit within neck 28. A shoulder 37 within ring 36 limits the extent of penetration of handle 1 thereinto so that the handle terminates in the ring midportionl In addition, ring 36 extends to the botto of tank 2.

Ring 36 is interrupted by one or more slots 38 which extend from the upper ring edge downwardly to adjacent rim 34. In the embodiment shown, a plurality of slots 38 are provided, thus creating slight radial flexibility of ring 36 and assisting in the press fit onto handle 1. As shown, when the unit is assembled, slots 38 extend from within tank 2 to below the handle end and provide passages between the handle and neck 28. When trigger 19 is operated, fluid will flow downwardly from tank 2 directly through slots 38 into member 32 and hence through head portion 33 and through the valve into chamber 9.

In the present embodiment, handle 1 is hollow, and means are provided to seal the handle interior from penetration by the shampoo. For this purpose, a flexible rubber membrane 39 is sealingly secured between rod 14 and the inner handle wall, adjacent the lower handle end. 1

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

1. In a rug shampooer device adapted for manual reciprocating translation over a nap surface:

a. an elongated handle,

b. a shampoo storage tank secured to said handle and including front and rear walls,

c. an indentation formed in each of said front and rear walls,

d. a clip extending across the bottom of said tank and having edge portions clampingly disposed in said indentations,

e. a foot member,

f. a roller brush assembly mounted to said foot member for supporting the device on and shampooing the nap surface,

g. and means for securing said foot member to said clip.

2. The device of claim 1: in which said securing means (g) placessaid clip under tension between said indentations.

3. The device of claim 1:

a. wherein said clip includes a normally upwardly bowed web,

(b) and said securing means (g) comprises screw means extending through said foot into said web so that said web is flattened to place said clip under tension between said indentations.

4. The device of claim 1:

a. wherein said tank has a generally planular bottom surface,

b. wherein said foot has a generally planular top wall engaging said bottom surface,

c. and which includes mutually engageable locating means between said surface and wall.

5. In the device of claim 1:

a. a liquid distributor chamber in said foot member,

b. manually operable valve means mounted to said tank and disposed in said chamber,

c. a downwardly extending discharge neck in the bottom of said tank and surrounding the lower end of said handle,

d. a connector tighteningly disposed between said handle and said neck,

e. and means for providing communication of liquid between said tank and said valve means through comprises:

said connector, 6. In the device of claim 1: v a. a liquid distributor chamber in said foot member,

b. a downwardly extending discharge neck in the bot- 2. an annular rim above said head portion, 3. and an annular ring extending upwardly from said rim and fit to the handle end so that the latter is disposed within the ring midportion,

said ring fitting into said neck,

d. manually operable valve means at the lower connector end, e. and at least one slot in said ring and with said slot extending from the bottom of said tank to below said handle to provide communication of liquidbetween the tank and said valve means. 7. The device of claim 6:

a. in which said handle is hollow and opens downwardly into said connector,

b. and which includes sealing means disposed within the lower end portion of said handle.

8. In a rug shampooing device adapted for manual reciprocating translation over a nap surface:

a. an elongated handle,

b. a shampoo storage tank secured to said handle,

c. a foot member secured to said tank,

d. a liquid distributor chamber in said foot member,

e. manually operable valve means mounted to said tank and wholly disposed within said chamber,

f. a downwardly extending discharge neck in the bottompf said tank and with said neck surrounding the l o wer end of said handle,

g. a connector tighteningly disposed between said handle and said neck,

h. and means for providing communication of liquid between said tank and said valve means directly through said connector.

9. The device of claim 8 in which said connector a. a hollow head portion,

b. an annular rim above said head portion,

0. and an annular ring extending upwardly from said rim and fit to the handle end so that the latter is disposed within the ring midportion, said ring fitting into said neck.

10. The device of claim 9 in which said communication providing means comprises: at least one slot in said ring and with said slot extending from the bottom of said tank to below said handle. 

1. In a rug shampooer device adapted for manual reciprocating translation over a nap surface: a. an elongated handle, b. a shampoo storage tank secured to said handle and including front and rear walls, c. an indentation formed in each of said front and rear walls, d. a clip extending across the bottom of said tank and having edge portions clampingly disposed in said indentations, e. a foot member, f. a roller brush assembly mounted to said foot member for supporting the device on and shampooing the nap surface, g. and means for securing said foot member to said clip.
 2. The device of claim 1: in which said securing means (g) places said clip under tension between said indentations.
 2. an annular rim above said head portion,
 3. and an annular ring extending upwardly from said rim and fit to the handle end so that the latter is disposed within the ring midportion, said ring fitting into said neck, d. manually operable valve means at the lower connector end, e. and at least one slot in said ring and with said slot extending from the bottom of said tank to below said handle to provide communication of liquid between the tank and said valve means.
 3. The device of claim 1: a. wherein said clip includes a normally upwardly bowed web, (b) and said securing means (g) comprises screw means extending through said foot into said web so that said web is flattened to place said clip under tension between said indentations.
 4. The device of claim 1: a. wherein said tank has a generally planular bottom surface, b. wherein said foot has a generally planular top wall engaging said bottom surface, c. and which includes mutually engageable locating means between said surface and wall.
 5. In the device of claim 1: a. a liquid distributor chamber in said foot member, b. manually operable valve means mounted to said tank and disposed in said chamber, c. a downwardly extending discharge neck in the bottom of said tank and surrounding the lower end of said handle, d. a connector tighteningly disposed between said handle and said neck, e. and means for providing communication of liquid between said tank and said valve means through said connector,
 6. In the device of claim 1: a. a liquid distributor chamber in said foot member, b. a downwardly extending discharge neck in the bottom of said tank and surrounding the lower end of said handle, c. a generally hat-shaped connector tighteningly disposed between said handle and said neck, said connector comprising:
 7. The device of claim 6: a. in which said handle is hollow and opens downwardly into said connector, b. and which includes sealing means disposed within the lower end portion of said handle.
 8. In a rug shampooing device adapted for manual reciprocating translation over a nap surface: a. an elongated handle, b. a shampoo storage tank secured to said handle, c. a foot member secured to said tank, d. a liquid distributor chamber in said foot member, e. manually operable valve means mounted to said tank and wholly disposed within said chamber, f. a downwardly extending discharge neck in the bottom of said tank and with said neck surrounding the lower end of said handle, g. a connector tighteningly disposed between said handle and said neck, h. and means for providing communication of liquid between said tank and said valve means directly through said connector.
 9. The device of claim 8 in which said connector comprises: a. a hollow head portion, b. an annular rim above said head portion, c. and an annular ring extending upwardly from said rim and fit to the handle end so that the latter is disposed within the ring midportion, said ring fitting into said neck.
 10. The device of claim 9 in which said communication providing means comprises: at least one slot in said ring and with said slot extending from the bottom of said tank to below said handle. 